PREFACE
IN entering upon the publication of a history of Erie County, the difficulty and importance of the
task were not underesti ted b e publishers. A desire for such a work has long existed, a work that
ould faithfully present a correct, concise and clean record of events, beginning with the Indian
tribes that once inhabited the land, thence tracing its history down to the present period.
The burning of the court house, on the 23d of March, 1823, which destroyed the records of the
first twenty years after the organization of the county, has ever been a source of annoyance to
those tracing the original titles to lands through the names of the first settlers. This work shows
where the titles of the lands in Erie County originated, to whom the first sales were made, and the
locations of the earliest pioneers, thus supplying many missing links in the fabric of its recorded
history.
The book may be said to have had its inception in 1879, when Mr. Benjamin Whitman, having
sold the Erie Observer, which he had edited since January, 1861, made a number of short tours
over the county for the joint purpose of reviving old friendships and settling his outstanding
accounts. After one or two trips he commenced writing up a series of articles for the Observer
under the heading of " County Jaunts," and finding them received with favor, conceived the idea
of expanding them into a history of the county. The effort of Mr. Whitman was more to give a
plain and correct statement of facts than to indulge in fine writing, for which, it is needless to
add, there is little opportunity in a work of this kind. His manuscript was purchased by the
publishers, and is mainly embodied in the book.
He was largely aided in the collecting of his matter by Capt. N. W. Russell, whose father, Mr.
Hamlin Russell, when on his death bed in 1852, after a residence of half a century in Erie
County, said to him, " I have made, a great mistake in not keeping, for the good of future
generations, a historical record of the advent and progress of the early settlers. Your retentive
memory can yet collect them, and put them in a shape that will be of great use to the inhabitants
hereafter. Promise me you will do so." The promise was given, and has been fulfilled to a
considerable extent in this work. " In the preparation of the matter," says Mr. Whitman, " Capt.
N. W. Russell, of Mill Creek Township, deserves very large credit. His remembrance of early
events is remarkable, and to his valuable assistance I owe more than I can express. His frequent
sketches on historical subjects, printed in the newspapers, were really the foundation of the book,
and in many cases I have not done much more than to elaborate his articles. Mr. Russell has, also,
revised all the proof, and vouches for the correctness of the historical matter."
For the convenience of its readers, the book has been divided into five parts. The outline history
of the State, contained in Part I, is from the pen
v - PREFACE.
Of Prof. Samuel P. Bates, of Meadville. The history of Erie County, included n Part II, was
compiled by Mr. Whitman, with the aid of Mr. Russell, as above stated. The history of the city of
Erie, in Part III, was written by Mr. R. C. Brown, of Chicago, Ill., excepting Chapter IV, which is
from the pen of Mr. F. E. Weakley, of Lebanon, Ohio. The township histories, in Part IV,
embrace a portion of the matter furnished by Messrs. Whitman and Russell, with additions by
Messrs. F. E. Weakley and J. B. Mansfield; while the biographical sketches in Part V, were
collected by a corps of solicitors, and a proof of each sketch submitted by mail to each subject for
correction. It is due to Mr. Whitman to add that the township sketches prepared by him were
much more full than they appear in the book, the limits to which the publishers were obliged to
confine themselves not allowing space for all of his matter.
The publication of such a work, for a patronage limited to a single county, was a hazardous
undertaking, and much solicitude was felt by the publishers on this account during the first stages
of the enterprise, but whatever their misgivings, they were soon dispelled by the liberal patronage
of the people of the county. An earnest effort has been made to render the book reliable and
lttractive, and to more than fulfill every promise made in the prospectus.
Acknowledgments are due to County, Township, City and Borough officials, )1d settlers,
members of the various professions and to citizens throughout the 3ounty, for favors and
generous assistance in the preparation of the work.
THE PUBLISHERS.
CONTENTS
PART I.
HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
CHAPTER I.-INTRODUCTORY.-Cornelis Jacobson Mey, 1624-25. William Van Hulst,
1625-26. Peter Minuit, 1626-33 David Petersen de Vries, 1632-33. Wouter Van Twiller,
1633-38 - 15-23
CHAPTER II.-Sir William Keift, 1638-47. Peter Minuit, 1638-41. Peter Hollandaer, 1641-43.
John Printz, 1643-53: Peter Stuyvesant, 1647-64. John Pappagoya, 1653-54. John
Claude Rysingh, 1654-55 - 23-33
CHAPTER III.-John Paul Jacquet, 1655-57. Jacob Alrichs, 1657-59. Goeran Van Dyck, 1657-58.
William Beekman, 1658-63. Alex. D'Hinoyossa, 1659-64 - 33-35
CHAPTER IV.-Richard Nichols, 1664-67. Robert Needham, 1664-68. Francis Lovelace,
1667-73. John Carr, 1668-73. Anthony Colve, 1673-74. Peter Alrichs, 1673-74. - 35-41
CHAPTER V.-Sir Edmund Andros, 1674-81. Edmund Cantwell, 1674-76. John Collier,
1676-77. Christopher Billop, 1677-81 - 41-50
CHAPTER VI.-William Markham, 1681-82. William Penn, 1682-84 - 51-61
CHAPTER VII.-Thomas Lloyd, 1684-86. Five Commissioners, 1686-88. John Blackwell,
1688-90. Thomas Lloyd, 1690-91. William Markham, 1691-93. Benjamin Fletcher,
1693-95. William Markham. 1693-99 - 61-69
CHAPTER VIM-William Penn, 1699-1701. Andrew Hamilton, 1701-03. Edward Shippen,
1703-04. John Evans, 1704-09. Charles Gooken, 1709-17 - 69-75
CHAPTER IX.-Sir William Keith, 1717-26. Patrick Gordon, 1726-36. James Logan, 1736-38.
George Thomas, 1738-47. Anthony Palmer, 1747-48. James Hamilton, 1748-54 - 75-89
CHAPTER X.-Robert H. Morris, 1754-56. William Denny, 1756-59. James Hamilton,
1759-63 - 89-97
CHAPTER XI.-John Penn, 1763-71. James Hamilton, 1771. Richard Penn, 1771-73.
John Penn, 1773-76 - 98-104
CHAPTER XII.-Thomas Wharton, Jr.,1777-78. George Bryan, 1778. Joseph Reed, 1778-81.
William Moore, 1781-82. John Dickinson, 1782-85. Benjamin Franklin, 1785-88 - 104-114
CHAPTER XIII. - Thomas Mifflin, 1788-99. Thomas McKean, 1799-1808. Simon Snyder,
1708-17. William Findlay, 1817-20. Joseph Heister, 1820-23. John A. Shulze, 1823-29. George
Wolfe, 1829-35. Joseph Ritner, 1835-39 - 114-121
CHAPTER XIV.-David R. Porter, 1839-45. Francis R. Shunk, 1845-48. William F. Johnstone,
1848-52. William Bigler, 1852-55. John Pollock, 1855-58. William F. Packer, 1858-61. Andrew
G. Curtin, 1861-67. John W. Geary, 1867-73. John F. Hartranft, 1873-78. Henry F. Hoyt,
1878-82. Robert E. Pattison, 1882 - 122-131
Gubernatorial Table - 132
PART II.
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.-GENERAL DESCRIPTION, ETC.- 137-144
County and Township Organization - 137
Cities, Boroughs and Villages 138 Distance Table - 138
Organization of Cities and Boroughs - 139
Election Districts - 139
What Township Taken From, etc - 140
Post Offices - 141
Census - 142-144
County and Township Boundaries - 143
CHAPTER II.-PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY - 145-150
The Land-Its Characteristics and Value - 146
Climate, Geology and Timber - 149
Minerals, Oil Wells, etc - 150
CHAPTER III.-GEOLOGY - 151-155
CHAPTER IV. - STREAMS, LAKES, BAYS, BRIDGES AND CULVERTS - 155-166
Principal Settlements, Railroads, etc - 156
Features of the Streams - 159
vi - CONTENTS.
French Creek and Its Principal Tributaries - 160
The Lake Shore Streams - 161
Lakes and Bays - 162
The Interior Lakes - 165
Bridges, Culverts, etc - 165
CHAPTER V.—PRE-HISTORIC REMAINS AND NATURAL CURIOSITIES - 166-172
Ancient Embankments - 169
More Strange Discoveries - 170
Natural Curiosities - 171
CHAPTER VI.—INDIAN HISTORY - 172-185
Extermination of the Eriez - 173
The Six Nations - 174
French and English Intrigues - 175
Pontiac's Conspiracy - 176
Capture of Le Boeuf and Presque Isle - 176
American Occupation - 180
Threats of an Indian War - 181
Raids by the Savages - 182
Indian Villages and Graveyards - 183
Cornplanter, The Seneca Chief - 184
CHAPTER VII.—THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH - 185-194
The First Soldiers - 186
Army of Occupation - 186
Coffin's Statement - 189
Washington's Visit - 189
Progress of the French - 191
French Village at Presque Isle - 191
Events in 1767 and 1758 - 192
The English Gaining - 192
Evacuation of the French - 193
English Dominion - 193
The French and English Forts - 194
The French Road - 194
CHAPTER VIII.—THE TRIANGLE - 194-200
The Western Boundary - 195
The New York Line - 195
The Triangle - 195
Release of the Indian Title - 196
Interesting Details - 199
Continental Certificates - 200
CHAPTER IX.—THE AMERICAN OCCUPATION - 201-209
Protecting the Frontier - 202
Occupancy of Fort Le Boeuf - 202
Interference of the General Government - 203
Was the Danger Real? - 203
A Lengthy Discussion - 204
An important Council - 204
Fort Le Boeuf and its Garrison - 205
A Treaty of Peace - 206
Beginning of the Town of Erie - 206
The Last Indian Murder - 209
CHAPTER X.—ANTHONY WAYNE - 209-212
Massacre of Paoli - 210
His Western Campaign - 210
Sickness and Death - 210
His Appearance and Bearing - 211
Disinterment of His Remains - 211
Appearance of the Body - 212
Second Disinterment - 212
His Eastern Tomb - 212
CHAPTER XI.—LAND MATTERS - 213-226
Pennsylvania Population Company - 213
A Great Land Speculator - 214
Plan of Settlement - 214
Holland Land Company - 215
Tenth Donation District - 215
Harrisburg and Presque Isle Company - 216
The Moravian Grant - 216
The Reservations - 216
Academy Lands - 219
Surveyors and Land Agents - 219
More Land Legislation - 220
Settled at Last - 220
Abstract of Judah Colt's Autobiography - 221
Land Sales - 223
List of Purchasers 223
State Commissioners - 224
Land Litigation - 224
The Speculation of 1836 - 226
CHAPTER XII—THE PIONEERS - 229-233
Where the People Came From - 230
Marriages, Births and Deaths - 230
Condition of the People, etc - 231
Game, etc - 232
CHAPTER XIII. — COMMON ROADS, STAGE
LINES, AIL ROUTES, TAVERNS, ETC. - 233-244
Buffalo Road - 234
The Ridge Road - 235
The Lake Road - 235
Waterford Turnpike - 235
Edinboro Plank Road - 236
Waterford Plank Road - 239
The Shunpike - 239
Wattsburg Plank Road - 240
Lake Pleasant Road - 240
The Colt's Station Road - 241
Old Taverns - 241
Travel and Transportation - 242
The Salt Trade - 243
Stage Lines and Mail Routes - 243
CHAPTER XIV.—RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
—CHURCHES—GRAVEYARDS, ETC - 245-262
Presbyterian Missionaries - 245
The Erie Presbytery - 246
Permanent Preachers - 246
Rev. Johnson Eaton - 246
The Erie and Other Churches - 249
Methodist Episcopal Church - 249
United Presbyterians, Lutherans, Episcopalians, etc - 254
Catholics and other Denominations - 255
List of Churches - 255
Sunday Schools - 260
Bible Society and Y. M. C. A. - 261
Graveyards and Cemeteries - 261
CHAPTER XV —Mills AND FACTORIES - 262-270
Outside of Erie City - 263
Other Early Mills and Factories - 264
List of Manufacturing Establishments - 265
CHAPTER XVI.—LAKE NAVIGATION - 270-283
The Merchant Service - 271
The Era of Steamboats - 272
Propellers and Ships - 273
The Old Times and the New - 273
Valuable Statistics - 274
Government Vessels - 274
Disasters on the Bay and Lake - 275
Distances by Lake - 276
Opening of Navigation - 279
Collectors at Erie - 280
Deputy Collectors - 280
Vessels Owned in Erie - 280
Business of the Port - 281
Light-houses and their Keepers - 282
CHAPTER XVII—COUNTY BUILDINGS - 283-293
The County Jail - 285
The Almshouse - 286
County Statistics - 291
Workhouse - 292
CHAPTER XVIII.—PERRY'S VICTORY AND THE
WAR OF 1812-14 - 293-320
Erie's Defenseless Condition - 293
First Stages of the War - 294
Assembling the Militia - 295
A Fleet Arranged For - 295
Perry Reaches Erie - 296
The First Step to Victory - 300
Safely Concentrated - 300
Menaces of the Enemy - 302
Getting over the Bar - 302
The First Cruise - 303
Challenging to Fight - 304
Preparing for Battle - 305
Brief Account of the Victory - 305
After the Battle - 309
Victories on Land - 310
Perry's Return to Erie - 310
CONTENTS.vii
The Winter of 1813-14 - 311
A Fatal Duel - 312
The Campaign of 1814 - 313
Incidents of the War - 314
Disposal of the Vessels - 314
American Army Officers - 315
The Story of James Bird - 316
Official Report of the British Commander - 319
CHAPTER XIX.—BENCH AND BAR -320-332
United States Courts - 323
The Bar - 324
Deaths, Removals, etc - 330
Court Criers, and Other Matters - 332
CHAPTER XX.—NOTABLE EVENTS - 333-340
The King of France - 333
Lafayette - 333
Horace Greeley - 333
Presidential Visitors - 334
An Exciting Campaign - 335
The Only Execution - 335
Indictments for Murder - 339
CHAPTER XXI.—POLITICAL HISTORY—ANNUAL RECORD - 340-430
1788 to 1800 - 340
1800 to 1802 - 341
1803 to 1806 - 342
1807 to 1810 - 343
1811 to 1816 - 344
1817 to 1820 - 345
1821 to 1823 - 346
1824 to 1825 - 349
1826 to 1828 - 350
1829 to 1830 - 351
1831 to 1832 - 352
1833 to 1835 - 353
1836 - 354
1837 to 1838 - 355
1839 to 1840 - 359
1841 - 360
1842 - 361
1843 to 1844 - 362
1845 to 1846 - 364
1847 - 365
1848 - 366
1849 to 1850 - 369
1851 - 370
1852 - 371
1853 - 372
1854 - 373
1855 to 1856 - 374
1857 - 376
1858 - 379
1859 to 1860 - 380
1861 to 1862 - 382
1863 to 1864 - 383
1865 to 1866 - 385
1867 to 1868 - 386
1869 to 1870 - 390
1871 to 1872 - 391
1873 - 394
1874 - 395
1875 to 1876 - 396
1877 to 1878 - 401
1879 to 1880 - 402
1881 - 404
1882 - 405
1883 - 406
LIST OF PUBLIC OFFICERS - 406
United States Officers. - 406
State Officers from Erie County - 410
State Senators - 411
Members of the House of Representatives - 412
County Officers - 414
CHAPTER XXII.—THE CANAL AND RAILROADS - 430-444
The Lake Terminus - 431
Completion of the Canal - 431
Its Abandonment - 432
Railroads - 433
Erie to Buffalo - 433
Erie to Cleveland - 433
Consolidation Effected - 434
The Railroad War - 434
Further Consolidation - 435
Local Features - 435
Distances - 436
Philadelphia & Erie Railroad - 436
General Description - 439
Other Matters - 439
Erie & Pittsburgh Railroad - 440
Buffalo, Corry & Pittsburgh Railroad - 441
New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad - 441
Union & Titusville Railroad - 442
New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad (The Nickel Plate) - 442
Projected Railroads - 443
CHAPTER XXIII —PHYSICIANS AND DENTISTS - 444-451
List of Registered Physicians -445-450
Erie - 445
Corry - 446
McKean - 446
Wattsburg - 449
Fairview - 449
Girard - 449
Union City - 449
North East - 449
Albion - 449
Waterford - 449
Springfield - 449
Edinboro - 450
Mill Village - 450
Other Localities - 450
Other Matters - 450
Dentists - 451
CHAPTER XXIV.--SCHOOLS, ACADEMIES, ETC - 451-456
The County Schools - 453
School Books, etc - 453
Spelling Schools - 454
Academies, etc - 454
General Remarks - 455
Tabulated Statement - 456
CHAPTER XXV.—NEWSPAPERS 459-465
Early Newspapers - 459
The Erie Gazette - 459
The Erie Observer - 460
The Erie Dispatch - 461
Other English Papers - 461
German and Portuguese Papers - 462
Defunct Papers - 463
Miscellaneous - 463
Personal - 464
Papers Outside of Erie - 465
CHAPTER XXVI.—WAR FOR TUE UNION - 465-489
The First Regiment - 466
The Eighty-third Regiment - 466
The One Hundred Eleventh Regiment - 469
The One Hundred Forty-fifth Regiment - 470
The First Draft - 470
Other Matters - 471
The Second Draft - 472
Lively Recruiting - 473
Half a Million More - 474
Nearing the End - 474
Officers from Erie County - 475
County Finances in Connection with the War - 476
Prices Compared - 479
The Erie Regiment—three months - 479
The Eighty-third Regiment - 481
The One Hundred Eleventh Regiment - 483
The One Hundred Forty-fifth Regiment - 485
CHAPTER XXVII.—MISCELLANEOUS - 490-500
Agricultural Societies - 490
Militia and Military Organizations - 490
Temperance - 492
Slaves and Slavery - 492
Seal of the County - 493
The Weather - 493
Early Justices - 493
The Cholera - 495
Telegraph Lines - 495
Shows and Circuses - 495
Cattle Driving - 495
viii - CONTENTS.
Currency - 496
Soldiers' Monuments - 496
The Revolution - 496
The Mexican War - 499
Anti-Slavery - 499
Oldest Men and Women - 499
Thanksgiving Day - 500
The Flood of 1883 - 500
PART III.
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF ERIE.
CHAPTER I.—HISTORICAL - 503-519
Scraps of History - 512
CHAPTER II.—GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND PROGRESS - 519-534
Hotels and Public Halls - 524
Pleasure Resorts - 524
Railroads and Shipping Facilities - 525
Bay, Harbor and Peninsula - 525
Life-Saving Service - 532
The Head - 532
Fisheries - 533
CHAPTER III.—MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT- 535-550
Water Works - 543
Fire Department - 546
Markets - 546
Police - 549
Financial Exhibit - 549
CHAPTER IV.—CHURCHES - 550-586
First Presbyterian Church - 550
Park Presbyterian Church - 552
Central Presbyterian Church - 554
Chestnut Street Presbyterian Church - 555
United Presbyterian Congregation - 556
St. Paul's Episcopal Church - 560
St. John's Episcopal Church - 563
Church of the Cross and Crown - 564
First Methodist Episcopal Church - 565
Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church - 569
Tenth Street Methodist Episcopal Church - 570
The African Methodist Episcopal Church - 571
The First Baptist Church - 571
First German Baptist Church - 573
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran and Reformed Church - 573
St. Paul's German Evangelical Church - 574
Salem Church of the Evangelical Association - 575
The English Evangelical Lutheran Church - 576
The German Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church - 579
Anschai Chesed Reform Congregation - 579
United Brethren Church - 580
The First Universalist Church - 580
St. Patrick's Catholic Pro-Cathedral - 581
St. Mary's Catholic Church - 583
St. Joseph's Catholic Church - 584
St. John's Catholic Church - 585
St. Andrew's Catholic Church - 585
CHAPTER V.—EDUCATION AND SOCIETIES - 586-600
Erie Academy - 591
Erie Female Seminary - 592
Catholic Schools - 592
Secret and Other Societies - 594
CHAPTER VI.—PRIVATE CORPORATIONS, CEMETERIES AND CHARITABLE
INSTITUTIONS - 600-613
Erie Gas Company - 600
Telegraph, Telephone and Express Companies - 601
The Erie City Passenger Railway Company - 601
Banks - 601
Insurance Companies - 603
Cemeteries - 604
Charitable Institutions - 606
CHAPTER VII: LEADING MANUFACTURING INTERESTS - 613-649
Board of Trade and Business Statistics - 649-651
PART IV.
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.
CHAPTER I.—MILL CREEK TOWNSHIP - 655-666
Lands - 655
Reservations - 656
Creeks and Bridges - 656
Public Highways - 659
Schools - 659
Villages and Post Offices - 660
Other Prominent Points - 661
Religious Societies - 662
Mills - 663
Early Settlers - 663
Public Men - 664
Miscellaneous - 665
CHAPTER II.—WATERFORD TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF WATERFORD - 666-684
Lands of the Township - 666
Tax List in 1813 - 669
Streams and Lakes - 670
Roads, Bridges and Mills - 670
Religious Societies - 671
School History - 671
Waterford Station - 672
BOROUGH OF WATERFORD - 672
The French Fort - 673
Pontiac's Conspiracy - 673
Beginning of the Town - 673
First Settlers - 674
Early Events - 675
The Lytles - 675
The Boating Trade - 676
Societies, etc - 676
Incorporation - 679
The Academy- 680
The Cemetery - 680
Religious Societies - 681
State and County Officers - 682
Postmasters - 683
Newspapers - 683
Manufactories - 683
Miscellaneous - 684
CONTENTS.ix
CHAPTER III.—UNION TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF UNION CITY - 684-695
The South Branch and its Tributaries - 685
Bridges and Mills - 685
Churches and Graveyards - 686
Early Settlers - 686
Political - 689
BOROUGH OF UNION CITY - 690
The Founder - 690
Growth of the Town - 690
Societies - 691
Manufactories - 692
Church Organizations - 693
Newspapers - 694
Miscellaneous - 695
CHAPTER IV.—LE BOEUF TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF MILL VILLAGE - 696-703
Early Settlers - 696
Streams and Mills - 699
Valleys and Ridges - 699
Holland Land Company - 700
Common Roads - 700
Churches - 701
Schools - 701
Public Men - 702
Villages - 702
BOROUGH OF MILL VILLAGE - 702
CHAPTER V. — VENANGO TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF WATTSBURG - 704-715
Early Settlers - 704
Taxables in 1800 - 705
Political - 705
War of 1812 - 705
Streams, Lake and Bridges - 706
Public Roads - 706
Mills, Factories and Schools - 709
Churches - 710
The Middlebrook Church—Graveyards - 710
Villages - 711
Recollections of a Native of the Township - 711
BOROUGH OF WATTSBURG - 712
Incorporation - 713
Religious - 713
Societies, etc - 713
Business Features - 714
Public Men - 714
Schools and Newspapers - 714
CHAPTER VI. — HARBOR CREEK TOWNSHIP - 715-723
General Description - 715
Creeks and Gullies - 716
Mills - 719
Roads, etc - 719
Wesleyville - 720
Harbor Creek and Moorheadville - 720
Religious Societies - 721
County Officers - 722
School History - 722
Miscellaneous - 723
CHAPTER VII.—NORTH EAST TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF NORTH EAST - 723-739
Early Settlers - 724
First Things - 725
Railroads and Common Roads - 725
The Creeks - 726
Manufacturing Establishments - 726
The Grape Culture - 729
Villages - 729
Cemeteries - 730
Schools - 731
Rev. Cyrus Dickson - 731
BOROUGH OF NORTH EAST - 732
Religious Societies - 733
Public Schools and College - 734
Hotels, Banks, etc - 735
Newspapers - 736
State and County Officers - 736
Miscellaneous - 736
CHAPTER VIII.—FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF FAIRVIEW - 739-749
General Description - 740
Lands and Streams - 741
Bridges and Mills - 742
Schools - 742
Common Roads, Railroads and Canals - 743
Political - 743
Religious Societies - 744
Manchester and Swanville - 744
Other Matters - 745
BOROUGH OF FAIRVIEW - 746
Early Incidents - 746
Other Churches - 749
Miscellaneous - 749
CHAPTER IX.—SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP - 750-760
Lands, etc - 750
Early Settlers - 751
Incidents of the Pioneers - 752
Streams, Mills and Factories - 752
Burial Places - 753
Public Men - 754
Academies and Schools - 754
Railroads, Common Roads and Hotels - 755
Churches - 756
Villages - 759
CHAPTER X. — CONNEAUT TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF ALBION - 760-769
The First Settlers - 760
Creeks and Bridges - 761
Land, Litigation and Pre-Historic Remains - 762
Railroads, Canals and Common Roads - 763
Schools, Mills and Burial Places - 764
Villages - 764
Miscellaneous - 765
BOROUGH OF ALBION - 765
Churches - 766
Business, Schools and Societies - 766
Factories. Newspapers, etc - 769
CHAPTER XI.—ELK CREEK TOWNSHIP - 770-775
General Description - 770
Roads and Streams - 771
Churches - 772
Schools - 772
Wellsburg - 772
Cranesviille - 774
Pageville - 774
CHAPTER XII. — McKEAN TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF MIDDLEBORO - 775-782
Streams and Lands - 775
Mills and Schools - 776
Churches, Cemeteries and Roads - 779
Villages - 780
Early Settlers - 780
Public Officers - 781
BOROUGH OF MIDDLEBORO - 781
CHAPTER XIII.—GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP - 782-786
Beginning the Settlement - 783
Other Matters - 784
Streams and Mills - 784
Village and Churches - 785
Schools - 786
Roads, etc - 786
CHAPTER XIV. GREENE TOWNSHIP - 789-793
First Settlers - 789
Lands - 790
Streams and Mills - 790
Roads and Railroad - 790
Hamlets and Churches - 791
Public Men - 792
Schools - 792
CHAPTER XV.—WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF EDINBORO - 793-802
First Settlers - 793
Roads - 794
Streams, Lake and Lands - 795
Villages and Churches - 795
Schools - 796
Factories and Mills - 799
BOROUGH OF EDINBORO - 800
General Description - 800
Churches - 800
Secret Societies, Newspapers and Post Offices - 801
State and County Officers - 802
The Normal School - 802
x - CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVI.— CONCORD TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGH OF ELGIN - 803-806
County Officers - 803
Early Settlers - 803
General Description - 804
Streams - 804
Railroads, Common Roads, etc - 805
Schools and Churches - 805
Miscellaneous - 806
BOROUGH OF ELGIN - 806
CHAPTER XVII—CITY OF CORRY - 809-823
How the City Started - 809
Rapid Growth - 810
Borough and City - 810
The City in General - 811
Oil Works - 812
Other Leading Industries - 813
General Business Features - 814
City Government - 814
School Building - 815
Newspapers - 816
Secret Societies - 816
Gas, Gas Wells and Public Halls - 820
Religious Societies - 820
Miscellaneous - 828
CHAPTER XVIII.—WAYNE TOWNSHIP - 824-832
Lands and their Value - 824
The Streams - 825
Village of Beaver Dam - 825
Carter Hill and Hare Creek - 829
Schools, Mills, etc - 829
The State Fish Hatchery - 830
The Pioneers - 830
Prominent Men - 831
The Greeleys - 831
CHAPTER XIX.—AMITY TOWNSHIP - 832-835
Streams and Bridges - 832
Mills and Roads - 833
Public Schools - 834
Lands, Villages, etc - 834
Early Settlers - 835
CHAPTER XX.—GIRARD TOWNSHIP AND BOROUGHS OF GIRARD AND LOCKPORT
835-851
Early Settlers - 836
Lands and Roads - 839
Railroads and Canal - 839
Streams, etc - 840
Mouth of Elk Creek - 840
Mills and Churches - 841
Schools and Mounds - 842
Miles Grove - 842
West Girard - 843
BOROUGH OF GIRARD - 844
Churches, Schools. etc - 844
Hotels and Factories - 845
Square, Monuments, etc - 846
Public Men - 846
Newspapers and Banks - 849
Miscellaneous - 850
BOROUGH OF LOCKPORT - 850
CHAPTER XXI.—FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - 851-854
First Settlements - 852
General Description - 852
Mills and Schools - 853
Churches and Graveyards - 853
Village and Quarry - 854
CHAPTER XXIL—SUMMIT TOWNSHIP 855-860
The Pioneers - 855
Railroads and Common Roads - 855
Streams and Valleys - 856
Religious Societies - 856
School History - 859
Mills, Quarry, Etc - 860
Miscellaneous - 860
PART V.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-ERIE AND CORRY.
City of Erie (alphabetically arranged) - 863-975
City of Erie (not alphabetically arranged—Hon. S. M. Brainerd - 976
City of Corry - 977-1006
PART VI.
TOWNSHIP BIOGRAPHIES.
Amity Township - 3
Concord Township - 11
Conneaut Township - 16
Elk Creek Township - 29
Fairview Township - 37
Franklin Township - 45
Girard Township - 53
Greene Township - 70
Greenfield Township - 75
Harbor Creek Township - 80
Le Boeuf Township - 98
McKean Township - 102
Mill Creek Township - 116
North East Township - 134
Springfield Township - 152
Summit Township - 164
Union Township - 168
Venango Township -183
Washington Township - 203
Waterford Township - 216
Wayne Township - 233
MISCELLANEOUS.
Errata -12
Map of Erie County - 13-14
Map Showing Various Purchases From the Indians - 113
Diagram Showing Proportionate Annual Production of Anthracite Coal Since 1820 - 118
Table Showing Amount of Anthracite Coal Produced in Each Region Since 1820 - 119
CONTENTS - xi
PORTRAITS
Bennett, J. H., Venango Township - 887
Bowman, Ralph, Elk Creek Township - 607
Bowman, Jane, Elk Creek Township - 608
Bowman, Lucretia, Elk Creek Township - 518
Boyd, Charles C.2 Waterford Township - 727
Brightman, William, Wayne Township - 848
Brown, Samuel M., Mill Creek Township - 668
Burton, John, Mill Creek Township - 468
Carroll, William, Union Township - 238
Casey, James, Erie - 597
Chambers, James, Harbor Creek Township - 187
Chapin, Pliny, Venango Township - 708
Cochran, Robert, Erie - 388
Colegrove, Isaac, Corry - 398
Cook, J. L. Waterford Township - 827
Custard, Robert, North East Township - 927
Dobbins, Daniel, Erie - 79
Downing, J. F., Erie - 657
Duncombe, Eli, Amity Township - 488
Eagley, John, Sr., Springfield Township - 857
Ebersole, Joseph, Harbor Creek Township - 307
Ebersole, Joseph J., Harbor Creek Township - 697
Ellicott, Andrew Erie - Frontispiece
Elliott, Thomas,. Harbor Creek Township - 318
Farrar, F. F., Erie - 897
Foot, Jabez B. Venango Township - 358
Foote, David E., Venango Township - 578
Galbraith, John, Erie - 227
Hammon, Paul, Concord Township - 427
Hamot, P. S. V., Erie - 134
Hartleb, Mathias, Erie - 768
Hasbrouck, William, Concord Township - 637
Haynes, J. H. North East Township - 218
Hecker, A. W., Corry - 628
Henderson, Joseph, Erie - 807
Henry, Robert H. Harbor Creek Township - 788
Kennedy, D. C., Wayne Township - 438
Kincaid, John, Wayne Township - 777
Koch, Moses, Erie - 757
Loop, D. D. North East Township - 347
Lowry, N. D., Harbor Creek Township - 558
Marshall, James C., Erie - 497
Marvin, Elihu, Erie - 327
McCreary, D. B., Erie - 747
McKee, Thomas, Mill Creek Township - 268
Metcalf, Prescott, Erie - 507
Moore, M M., Harbor Creek Township - 918
Nash, Norman, North East Township - 338
Nicholson, Isabel, Mill Creek Township - 867
Orton, J. R., Conneaut Township - 688
Ottinger, Douglass, Erie - 537
Putnam, William, Union Township - 878
Rea, Samuel, Springfield Township - 277
Rea, Johnston Girard Township - 447
Reed, Seth, Erie - 45
Reed, Rufus S. Erie - 157
Reed, Charles M., Erie - 297
Reeder, Moses, Washington Township - 288
Russell, N. W., Erie - 377
Salsbury, A. P., Conneaut Township - 527
Sanford, G Erie - 167
Sedgwick, John, Waterford Township - 367
Selden, George, Erie - 247
Short, Alfred North, East Township - 567
Sill, Thomas H., Erie - 257
Sill James, Erie - 818
Smith, Samuel, Wayne Township - 407
Stafford, Henry C., Erie - 938
Staples, F. E., Erie - 947
Sterrett, A. J., Erie - 738
Sterrett, Joseph M., Erie - 148
Stinson, William S., Harbor Creek Township - 907
Stranahan, P. G., Union Township - 648
Strong, Martin, Erie. - 207
Taylor, Isaac R., Washington Township - 547
Thayer Alvin, Erie - 797
Tracy, John A., Erie - 417
Tracy, John F. Erie - 617
Vincent, John, Erie - 198
Vincent, B. B., Erie - 457
Vincent, Strong, Erie - 717
Weed, William B., Greene Township - 477
Weschler, Jacob, Erie - 837
Wheeler Silas, Corry - 178
Wilson, David, Union Township - 587
Woodruff, S. E., Erie - 677
ERRATA.
Page 214—For " after the last war," read "before the last war."
Page 263—McCullough's mills were built in 1802.
Page 272—The steamboat Walk-in-the-Water was wrecked in 1821.
Page 272—The steamboat Missouri was bought, not built, by Gen. Reed in 1840.
Page 274—The U. S. revenue cutter Benjamin Rush was built in 1828.
Page 293—The block-house referred to as having been built in 1795 stood on Garrison Hill.
Page 324—William Wallace located in Erie in 1798.
Page 332—The name of the first court crier was Daniel Nangle, instead of David Langley.
Page 341—William Hoge was a resident of Washington County.
Page 401—The Democratic vote for Congress in Warren County in 1878 was 821, instead of
1821.
Page 425—For Sylveras E. Webster, County Surveyor, read Cyrenus E. Webster.
Page 429—For David Langley, Court Crier, read Daniel Nangle.
Page 433—The first passenger train came into Erie January 9, 1852.
Page 463—The Observer office was the first to introduce a power press, not steam power.
Page 495—For Isaac Miller read Israel Miller.
Page 499—For Daniel Stancliff read Lemuel Stancliff.
Page 500—For Benjamin Colton read Benjamin Collom.
Page 500—John Teel, second, died April 21, 1872.
Page 656—For Benjamin Russell read N. W. and G. J. Russell.
Page 664—For Tract 47 read Tract 247.
Page 664—For Mr. Martin Stough read Mrs. Martin Stough.
Page 675—George W. Reed settled in Waterford in 1810.
Page 679, also 139—The park in Waterford Borough is about a mile from Waterford Station on
the P. & E. road, making the distance by rail from Erie about twenty miles.
Page 680—For James Judson read Amos Judson.
Page 732—Rev. Cyrus Dickson completed his college course in 1837.
Page 744—For John M. Kratz read Joseph M. Kratz.